RabbitCore RCM3365/RCM3375
User's Manual
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2. Getting Started

This chapter explains how to set up and use the RCM3365/RCM3375 modules with the accompanying Prototyping Board.

NOTE It is assumed that you have a Development Kit. If you purchased an RCM3365 or RCM3375 module by itself, you will have to adapt the information in this chapter and elsewhere to your test and development setup.

2.1 Install Dynamic C

To develop and debug programs for the RCM3365/RCM3375 (and for all other Rabbit hardware), you must install and use Dynamic C.

If you have not yet installed Dynamic C version 9.24 (or a later version), do so now by inserting the Dynamic C CD from the Development Kit in your PC's CD-ROM drive. If autorun is enabled, the CD installation will begin automatically.

If autorun is disabled or the installation otherwise does not start, use the Windows Start | Run menu or Windows Disk Explorer to launch setup.exe from the root folder of the CD-ROM.

The installation program will guide you through the installation process. Most steps of the process are self-explanatory.

Dynamic C uses a COM (serial) port to communicate with the target development system. The installation allows you to choose the COM port that will be used. The default selection is COM1. You may select any available port for Dynamic C's use. If you are not certain which port is available, select COM1. This selection can be changed later within Dynamic C.

NOTE The installation utility does not check the selected COM port in any way. Specifying a port in use by another device (mouse, modem, etc.) may lead to a message such as "could not open serial port" when Dynamic C is started.

Once your installation is complete, you will have up to three icons on your PC desktop. One icon is for Dynamic C, one opens the documentation menu, and the third is for the Rabbit Field Utility, a tool used to download precompiled software to a target system.

If you have purchased the optional Dynamic C Rabbit Embedded Security Pack, install it after installing Dynamic C. You must install the Rabbit Embedded Security Pack in the same directory where Dynamic C was installed.

2.2 Hardware Connections

There are three steps to connecting the Prototyping Board for use with Dynamic C and the sample programs:

  1. Attach the RCM3365/RCM3375 module to the Prototyping Board.

  2. Connect the serial programming cable between the RCM3365/RCM3375 and the workstation PC or if you have an RCM3365 with RabbitSys firmware you may connect the RCM3365 and the PC using Ethernet cables.

  3. Connect the power supply to the Prototyping Board.

2.2.1 Step 1 — Attach Module to Prototyping Board

Turn the RCM3365/RCM3375 module so that the Ethernet jack is facing the direction shown in Figure 2 below. Align the pins from headers J3 and J4 on the bottom side of the module into header sockets JA and JB on the Prototyping Board. The picture card (NAND flash) does not have to be inserted into connector J6 on the RCM3365/RCM3375 at this time.


Figure 2. Install the RCM3365/RCM3375 Module on the Prototyping Board

NOTE It is important that you line up the pins on headers J3 and J4 of the RCM3365/RCM3375 module exactly with the corresponding pins of header sockets JA and JB on the Prototyping Board. The header pins may become bent or damaged if the pin alignment is offset, and the module will not work. Permanent electrical damage to the module may also result if a misaligned module is powered up.

Press the module's pins firmly into the Prototyping Board header sockets—press down in the area above the header pins using your thumbs or fingers over the header pins as shown in Figure 2. Do not press down on the picture card connector (J6) unless the picture card is installed, but rather press down on the circuit board along the edge by the connector. Also, do not press down on the middle of the module to avoid flexing the module, which could damage the module or components on the module.

Should you need to remove the module, grasp it with your fingers along the sides by the connectors and gently work the module up to pull the pins away from the sockets where they are installed. Do not remove the module by grasping it at the top and bottom.

2.2.2 Step 2 — Connect Serial Programming Cable

The serial programming cable connects the RCM3365/RCM3375 to the PC running Dynamic C to download programs and to monitor the module during debugging.

Connect the 10-pin connector of the serial programming cable labeled PROG to header J1 on the RCM3365/RCM3375 module as shown in Figure 3. There is a small dot on the circuit board next to pin 1 of header J1. Be sure to orient the marked (usually red) edge of the cable towards pin 1 of the connector. (Do not use the DIAG connector, which is used for a nonprogramming serial connection.)


Figure 3. Connect Serial Programming Cable and Power Supply

NOTE Be sure to use the serial programming cable (part number 101-0542) supplied with this Development Kit—the serial programming cable has blue shrink wrap around the RS-232 converter section located in the middle of the cable. Programming cables with clear or red shrink wrap from other Rabbit kits are not designed to work with RCM3365/RCM3375 modules.

Connect the other end of the serial programming cable to a COM port on your PC.

NOTE Some PCs now come equipped only with a USB port. It may be possible to use an RS-232/USB converter (Part No. 20-151--0178) with the serial programming cable supplied with the RCM3365/RCM3375 Development Kit. Note that not all RS-232/USB converters work with Dynamic C.

2.2.2.1 Programming via Ethernet Option

An Ethernet cable connects a RabbitSys-enabled RCM3365 to the PC running Dynamic C with Dynamic C RabbitSys via a DHCP network to download programs and to monitor the RCM3365 module during debugging.

Use a straight-through CAT 5/6 Ethernet cable to connect the Ethernet jack on the RCM3365 to a DHCP-enabled network. Your PC should also be connected to this network—you will need a second straight-through CAT 5/6 Ethernet cable to connect the PC to the network since only one straight-through Ethernet cable is supplied with the Development Kit.


Figure 4. Connect Ethernet Cable for Ethernet Programming Option

You may also use a crossover CAT 5/6 Ethernet cable to connect the Ethernet jack on the RCM3365 directly to your PC, but there will be additional steps required to configure the TCP/IP parameters on the RCM3365 and on your PC if your PC does not have a DHCP server. These steps are described in Appendix E.

2.2.3 Step 3 — Connect Power

When all other connections have been made, you can connect power to the Prototyping Board. Connect the wall transformer to jack J1 on the Prototyping Board as shown in Figure 3.

Plug in the wall transformer. The core LED on the Prototyping Board should light up. The RCM3365/RCM3375 and the Prototyping Board are now ready to be used.

NOTE A RESET button is provided on the Prototyping Board to allow a hardware reset without disconnecting power. The RCM3365/RCM3375 can also be reset from Dynamic C by pressing <Ctrl-Y> if your PC is connected to the RCM3365/RCM3375 via the serial programming cable.

2.2.3.1 Alternate Power-Supply Connections

All Development Kits include a header connector that may be used to connect your power supply to 3-pin header J2 on the Prototyping Board. The connector may be attached either way as long as it is not offset to one side—the center pin of J2 is always connected to the positive terminal, and either edge pin is negative. The power supply should deliver 8 V to 30 V DC at 8 W.

2.3 Starting Dynamic C

Once the RCM3365/RCM3375 is connected as described in the preceding pages, start Dynamic C by double-clicking on the Dynamic C icon on your desktop or in your Start menu. Select Code and BIOS in Flash, Run in RAM on the "Compiler" tab in the Dynamic C Options > Project Options menu. Click OK.

Section 2.3.1 explains the remaining Dynamic C configurations to run a sample program via the serial programming cable, and Section 2.3.2 explains the remaining Dynamic C configurations to run a sample program via an Ethernet cable.

2.3.1 Running Dynamic C via Serial Programming Cable

Dynamic C uses the serial port on your PC that you specified during installation.

If you are using a USB port to connect your computer to the RCM3365/RCM3375 module, choose Options > Project Options and select "Use USB to Serial Converter" on the Communications tab.

2.3.1.1 Run a Sample Program

Use the File menu to open the sample program PONG.C, which is in the Dynamic C SAMPLES folder. Press function key F9 to compile and run the program. The STDIO window will open on your PC and will display a small square bouncing around in a box.

This program shows that the CPU is working. The sample program described in Section 6.5, "Run the PINGME.C Sample Program," tests the TCP/IP portion of the board.

2.3.1.2 Troubleshooting

If Dynamic C cannot find the target system (error message "No Rabbit Processor Detected."):

If Dynamic C appears to compile the BIOS successfully, but you then receive a communication error message when you compile and load the sample program, it is possible that your PC cannot handle the higher program-loading baud rate. Try changing the maximum download rate to a slower baud rate as follows.

If a program compiles and loads, but then loses target communication before you can begin debugging, it is possible that your PC cannot handle the default debugging baud rate. Try lowering the debugging baud rate as follows.

2.3.2 Running Dynamic C via Ethernet Cables

The firmware needed to run RabbitSys has been preloaded on RCM3365 RabbitCore modules sold for use with Dynamic C RabbitSys. The software from the Dynamic C and the Dynamic C RabbitSys CDs must be installed on your PC. A system running RabbitSys can be connected to a DHCP network using straight-through Ethernet cables, or it can be connected directly to the PC via an Ethernet crossover cable.

TIP It is recommended that you use one of the above options for a PC/workstation or network with a DHCP server or the serial cable programming option when you are using the RCM3365 for the first time since these options are easier to set up and run.

Using DHCP Network with Straight-Through Ethernet Cables

Enable separate instruction and data spaces and select "Compile program in RabbitSys user mode" from the Dynamic C Options > Project Options > Compiler menu.

Before you compile and run a program via the Ethernet for the first time via a DHCP network, you must run the rdiscover utility by double-clicking it on your PC desktop. Your PC must be connected to the same DHCP network as the RCM3365. The utility will open a window and list the MAC addresses for any RabbitSys boards connected to the network.

Select a board from the list to display additional information such as the board's Internet address. This is the IP address to enter when you access the Dynamic C Options > Project Options > Communications menu to select "Use TCP/IP Connection." You must also enter "32023" for the Control Port and the default login values of "admin" and "password."

2.3.2.1 Run a Sample Program

Use the File menu to open the sample program PONG.C, which is in the Dynamic C SAMPLES folder. Press function key F9 to compile and run the program. The STDIO window will open on your PC and will display a small square bouncing around in a box.

This program shows that the CPU is working. The sample program described in Section 6.5, "Run the PINGME.C Sample Program," tests the TCP/IP portion of the board.

2.3.2.2 Troubleshooting

If the rdiscover utility could not find your RCM3365:

If the rdiscover utility could not find your RCM3365, and you were unable to reload the RabbitSys binary file, your RCM3365 does not have the firmware to support Dynamic C RabbitSys and cannot be used with Dynamic C RabbitSys.

If Dynamic C returns an error message, check that the RCM3365 is powered correctly. The red CORE LED on the Prototyping Board should be lit when the RCM3365 is mounted on the Prototyping Board and the AC adapter is plugged in. Ensure that the RCM3365 module is firmly and correctly installed in its connectors on the Prototyping Board.

2.4 Where Do I Go From Here?

If the sample program ran fine, you are now ready to go on to other sample programs and to develop your own applications. The source code for the sample programs is provided to allow you to modify them for your own use. The RCM3365/RCM3375 User's Manual also provides complete hardware reference information and describes the software function calls for the RCM3365 and the RCM3375, the Prototyping Board, and the optional LCD/keypad module.

For advanced development topics, refer to the Dynamic C User's Manual, the Dynamic C RabbitSys User's Manual, and the Dynamic C TCP/IP User's Manual, also in the online documentation set.

2.4.1 Technical Support

NOTE If you purchased your RCM3365/RCM3375 through a distributor or through a Rabbit partner, contact the distributor or partner first for technical support.

If there are any problems at this point:

Rabbit—A Digi International Brand
www.rabbit.com
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